By Olawale Alabi

Roger Federer brings down the curtain on his illustrious career later this week but the Swiss maestro has assured his millions of fans that he would not become a tennis ghost.

Back in London, down river from where he won a record eight Wimbledon titles, the 41-year-old said he had no intention of walking away from a sport he has graced for so long.

Speaking to reporters at Londons O2 Arena, where he twice won the ATP Finals title, the Swiss was emotional at times as he explained the decision to hang up his rackets.

Asked what his plans were for the future, Federer said he would not disappear like Swedish great Bjorn Borg, who is captaining Europe against the Rest of the World this week.

I just wanted to let the fans know I wont be a ghost. Its funny, I spoke about Bjorn Borg, he didnt return to Wimbledon for 25 years and that hurts every fan, Federer said of the 11-time major winner who quit tennis aged 26.

But I dont think Ill be that guy. I feel tennis has given me too much. I have been around the game for too long. Have fallen in love with too many things.

Youll see me again. In what capacity, I dont know. Still have to think about it a little bit, give myself some time.

Federer announced last Thursday that the Laver Cup, the team event he helped create, would be the last act of a professional career spanning almost a quarter of a century.

Having not played competitively since losing in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year, Federer will make his final bow with a doubles match, possibly alongside great rival Rafa Nadal.

Federer had still held out hope of making a comeback but said his knee issues had finally forced him to retire.

My knee just doesnt allow me to play at this level anymore, he said.

I came to realise that throughout the summer and then I was just looking for a place in time where I could call it.

It felt very fitting for me to end my career here. Having Bjorn Borg on the bench with me when I walk out is going to be something that is beyond cool and I felt that was something really nice. Having a team behind me as well would not feel so lonely when Im calling it a day.

Federers collection of 20 Grand slam titles has been surpassed by Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21) in an unprecedented golden era for mens tennis.

But whatever the statistics, many still regard him as the greatest player ever to wield a racket.

He claimed 103 career titles, second only to Jimmy Connors, and spent a record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one from 2004 to 2008.

His first Grand Slam title arrived in 2003 when he beat Mark Philippoussis to win Wimbledon and he went on to win it five years in a row before losing to Nadal in a 2008 classic.

This city has been special to me, maybe the most special place, Federer said.(Reuters/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OLAL

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Source: NAN News

By Cecelia Ologunagba

President Muhammadu Buhari and some Nigerian political leaders were among world leaders that attended the opening of the General Debate of the 77th session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters on Tuesday in New York.

The correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

Others are Chief of Staff of the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq.

No fewer than 150 world leaders are attending the largest diplomatic gathering after two years of virtual and hybrid summits.

On Wednesday, Buhari will be the first speaker to address the General Assembly, which is the second day of the General Debate.

He will deliver Nigerias statement around 9:00 a.m. (around 2 :00 p.m. Nigerian time) to other world leaders during the morning session.

Also, he will be attending the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change meeting and Africas New Public Health Order: Rejuvenating the Global Health Security Agenda.

Similarly, Buhari will attend a reception by the U.S. President Joe Biden at American Museum of Natural History.

On Thursday, the President is expected to attend a bilateral meeting on Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum and High-Level meetings on the Sahel.

Also, Buhari will attend the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

On Friday, the Nigerian President will attend High Level Breakfast Meeting on Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council Commemoration of 15 years of L.69.

Similarly, he will attend the official Launch of Nigerias Integrated National Financing Framework that same day. (NAN) ()

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide, says the appointment of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, as National Youth Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council by the partys Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is apt.

Mr Hassan Aare, President, Yoruba Council in a statement on Monday in Abuja appreciated Tinubu for the gesture.

Hassan congratulated Bello on the appointment, saying that it would help in galvanising Nigerian youths to support Tinubu.

With heart of appreciation to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC Presidential Candidate, in consonance with the entire APC National Executive Committee and APC Presidential Campaign Council heartily congratulates Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi .

His appointment as the National Youth Coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, is in due recognition of his impressive political achievements and exemplary leadership demonstrated as governor of Kogi.

The entire good people of Yoruba Land join other well-meaning Nigerians, as well as members and leadership of the Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye, (Yoruba Council Worldwide) alongside all her affiliated organisations globally to specially felicitate with Bello, he said.

Aare said the group received Bellos appointment with endless joy as a good omen towards charting a way forward to mobilise Nigerian youths to vote massively for the APC in 2023.

According to him, the appointment is on point because it is the most important factor to success, ahead of the 2023 APC Presidential Campaign.

He said Bellos appointment was predicated on his superlative wealth of experience and succinct administrative management prowess and his ability to connect with youth groups.

We salute Bellos developmental laid down positive plans for the youths and robust intelligence, with committed interest in line with the APC Presidential Councils campaign mandate, he said.

Aare said the appointment was also in line with the Tinubu led vision of ensuring the enthronement of peace, love and unity as well as guaranteeing welfare for citizens.

He commended Bellos indefatigable roles towards the noble actualisation of Hope 23 for a new Nigeria under the incoming President, Bola Tinubu come 2023.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, has called on all Nigerians to ensure national unity and cohesion towards ensuring peaceful, free and elections come 2023.

Abubakar made the call at a one-day National Unity Conference of The Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is: Nigerias National Unity in the build up to the 2023 General Elections.

Abubakar, who is the Chairman, Heritage Council of AANI, said the problem of Nigeria could only be addressed by Nigerians themselves, adding that elections must not be seen as a do or die affair.

He said it was important for the nation to go back to where it missed the road, adding that Nigeria must retrace its steps towards building a better society.

We have had series of talk shows like this across the country in the last two, three or four years and we are still having more all towards bringing stability, sanity, understanding, love respect amongst all of us as Nigerians.

If anyone is telling you that everything is well in this country he is telling you lies and we have had so many times to say it in front of Mr. President.

Things are not normal and I think to know that you have a problem, you have half of the solution. The other part of the solution of the problem is what we are looking for as part of this conference.

Let us continue to talk to one another, let us not get tired of talking to one another, he said.

Abubakar called on all Nigerians to see their diversity as an act of God, adding that God was never wrong to have allow the different ethnic groups to coexist as a nation.

For us to be united, we must know who we are and we must know our history.

We now have people who dont know history in their youth. All they do is to insult leaders and call people names, call other ethnic nationalities derogatory names and if you dont stop that, you cannot get unity that you are all shouting for, he said.

AANI President and former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, said that Nigeria like all countries of the world was not immune to developmental challenges.

Abubakar said the nation had had its own share of political, economic and social crises, occasioned by poor planning, inadequate management, lack of accountability

He listed others to include: poor citizen participation and in particular, non- implementation of robust policy frameworks and strategies to drive the critical sectors of the economy.

These, he said had resulted in stunted economic growth which promoted poverty, unemployment and crimes that snowballed into insurgency, kidnappings and armed conflicts in many parts of the country.

Abubakar said the misfortunes were threatening the unity, security, economy and all aspects of the nation.

He said that AANI decided to convene the conference with composition cutting across diverse backgrounds.

He said the aim was to interrogate the circumstances that led to the current state of affairs and proffer realistic and workable recommendations and implementation strategies for a more united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

As we approach the forth coming general elections, there is the urgent need to address all contentious issues and debilitating circumstances, in order to create an enabling environment for the orderly transfer of power that will deepen our democracy.

This conference therefore provides opportunity for stakeholders, to hold frank and dispassionate discussion on the magnitude of the challenges facing our country and participate in developing adequate recommendations and a realistic road map, for their implementation.

No doubt there is an urgent need for a change of attitude and the world view of the average Nigerian, especially the elites and the political class, who have responsibility to provide effective and purposeful leadership, for the transformation of this country.

There must be a comprehensive strategy and aggressive advocacy to stabilize the polity and promote a proactive agenda for the development of our dear country, Nigeria.

We must rededicate ourselves to the Project Nigeria and provide durable solutions to the prevailing situation in the country.

This requires comprehensive planning and the enthronement of accountability, good governance and sustained advocacy throughout the country, he said.

AANI president said that NIPSS had contributed immensely in addressing Nigerias developmental challenges, by engaging in research and advocacy that had proffered several recommendations and implementation strategies, on virtually all aspects of political, social and economic lives.

According to him, there is the need for a policy framework for the implementation of the research findings and recommendations from NIPSS, many of which are left to gather dust on the shelves. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi says physical fitness remains the cornerstone of troops combat readiness in contending with myriads of security challenges confronting the country.

Magashi, who was represented by the Director, Army Affairs, Mr Sunday Attah, said this at the opening of the 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition (2022-AFISSC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that physical fitness also helps to keep service personnel in top state that would enable them to carryout and achieve assigned tasks.

The minister said the inter-service sports competition, organised by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) was designed to provide the platform for the services to interact with one another towards sustaining the good relationship built and enjoyed over the years.

According to him, the importance of physical fitness to an armed forces such as ours cannot be over emphasised, particularly at this time that Nigeria is contending with a myriad of security challenges.

It is physically and mentally fit personnel that make the difference in combat operations.

These physically and mentally fit personnel are able to endure tough weather and terrain conditions and other stressful harsh battle conditions.

Physical fitness therefore remains the cornerstone of troops combat readiness as it keeps Service Personnel in top physical state that enable them carryout and achieve assigned tasks.

On the whole, physical fitness is the basis for service personnels good health and physical wellbeing, he added.

Magashi said the current security challenges confronting the nation were enormous and thus, calls for synergy and cooperation among the three services.

He said that avenues such as sports competition, needed to be continuously created to facilitate mutual interaction amongst troops.

The minister commended the troops for their efforts and sacrifices at tackling the security challenges as well as the DHQ for organising the sports competition.

He charged the participating athletes to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and strive to put in optimal performance towards winning laurels for their various services.

Furthermore, let fair play be your watchword as you keep in focus, the objective for the organisation of this sports fiesta.

I will not end my remarks without assuring you all of the unflinching commitment of the President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, at ensuring the best of welfare and working conditions for our armed forces personnel.

He appreciates the huge efforts and great sacrifices you all are making to keep our dear country, Nigeria safe and prosperous, he added.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the event was aimed at strengthening the ties among troops, instilling discipline and readiness to serve a common cause in the armed forces.

Irabor, who was represented by Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said that friendly sporting competition helps in fostering desired working relationship and promoting synergy among members of the armed forces.

This, according to him, is because fitness of the body and contentment of mind come more readily in the free atmosphere of games.

More so, sports provide a basis for team work that is needed for troops to be able to function with a cohesion that is often called upon both during peacetime military engagements and combat operations.

As we all know, warfare is a grueling experience and the ability to advance long distances with full combat gear through rugged terrains and to fight effectively requires strength, agility and stamina from troops.

This can only be conditioned through sports and effective physical fitness training.

As such, team sports have been found to provide both physiological and psychological benefits that reduce stress, illness and injuries, especially during operations.

Accordingly, physical fitness and mental alertness of personnel have become key considerations for the armed forces to meet increasing demands of current and emerging threats, he said.

Irabor said the military had made giant strides in encouraging personnel and their families to always engage in sports through organised events like half marathon, children sports clinic and various sports championships.

The CDS said the competitions were aimed at promoting synergy and cooperation between the AFN and other security agencies, adding that it had also encouraged troops to build fitness and maintain combat readiness.

He said that several talents discovered from competitions of this nature were representing the country in different international sporting events and recording exploits.

According to him, the Cross Country Team to represent Nigeriain the 58th World Military Cross Country Competition slated to hold at Beja, Portugal in October, would be selected from the Inter-Service Sports Competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the competition features male and female athletes from the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

They will compete for laurels inBasketball, Cross-Country, Football, Taekwondo and Volleyball. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Temitope Ponle

The President of African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina would join other world leaders for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Solomon Mugera, the Communication and External Relations Department, AfDB on Tuesday.

Adesina would discuss global issues such as the impact of climate change, Russias war in Ukraine and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mugera, this is the first time in two years that the general assembly is being held in person due to the pandemic.

The assemblys theme this year is, A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.

It reflects the urgent and unprecedented need for global cooperation to confront these issues.

The AfDB delegation, led by its president, is expected to participate in a number of high level meetings.

Theseinclude the Global Food Security Summit, and a high-level meeting on the Sahel jointly organised by the UN and the African Union.

Others are a presidential dialogue group on nutrition, a meeting of the Global Crisis Response Group on food, energy, and finance, and an inaugural meeting.

The inaugural meeting would be the Global Leadership Council for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.

Adesina is expected to meet with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the President of the Rockefeller Foundation Raj Shah, and other development partners.

He would also attend the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum, a conference for international business investment.

Other participants expected to attend include President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and Aliko Dangote, the President Dangote Group.

Also, Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta, Facebooks parent company, and Satya Nadella, Chairman, Microsoft Corp, would participate. (NAN)

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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Bukola Olaifa

Mr Daniel Okafor, National President, Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) has called for the establishment of farmers security outfit to combat the incessant killings of farmers by herders and bandits.

Okafor said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the recent increase in the high cost of food items was as a result of farmers not going to farms, as they should because of activities of herders and bandits.

We have lost some of our farmers while working on their farms both men, women and youths.

This is impacting negatively on production and economic growth, he said.

He said there was need to also train farmers on security tips and more training on agricultural best practices to improve production.

Okafor appealed to the Federal Government to make special budget available to farmers to boost production in the face of post-COVID-19 recovery. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

By Nabilu Balarabe

The Yobe Government says it will utilise N10.8 billion of the N18 billion refund received from the Federal Government on road construction projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recent N18 billion refund covers payment of five major roads constructed by the state on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Umar Dudaye, stated this ON Tuesday during the ministerial briefing organised by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said that N10.8 billion, representing 60 per cent of the refund would be spent on road construction to enhance transportation and ease movement of goods and services in the state.

Dudaye said the ministry had completed 15 road and drain projects, covering about 50 kilometres across nine local government areas from 2019 to 2022.

The commissioner, however, said five other roads covering about 90km were under construction.

The commissioner listed the roads to include 30km Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, 18km Danchuwa-Garin Bingel and 5.7km NTA Potiskum-Gujba.

Others were four Kilometre Buni Yadi road, 3.7km Nguru township road, 2.7 km Potiskum township road, 2.5km Obasanjo-Mallamatari-Gujba road, 2.5km Jaji-Maji township road, among others.

Dudaye said two pedestrian bridges had been completed at Damaturu Modern Market and Damaturu Cattle Market, while three others were under construction at Nguru, Gashua and Potiskum markets.

The commissioner said the ministry had renovated the partly damaged Katarko bridge, adding that it would rehabilitate Kaliyari and Jajere roads damaged by flood. (NAN)( www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

By Ugonne Uzoma

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Tuesday began specialised skill development programme for 40 retirees in Imo.

The SMEDAN Director-General, Mr Olawale Fasanya, who started the programme on Tuesday in Owerri, said it was aimed to promote skills development and financial independence among retirees.

Fasanya who was represented by the Assistant Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mr Tunde Oloidi, said the programme would be on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

He said this would not only alleviate poverty but also promote self-reliance.

He added that the programme would enhance participants engagement in productive ventures as they would be provided with starter packs in vulcanising and food processing at the end of the training.

Oloidi noted that the decision to focus on food processing and vulcanising stemmed from the assessment exercise conducted by the state manager of the agency.

It is a programme designed to provide entrepreneurship skills, refresher vocational skills and provision of empowerment materials to fill capacity gaps of the target group.

This will ensure they earn income through filling the artisanal gap in Nigeria and consequently promote skills development among retirees, he said.

He further commended the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, for providing an enabling environment for MSMEs to thrive in the state.

Also, Mr Paul Ozumba, the Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Employment, commended SMEDAN for promoting job creation and empowerment in the state.

Ozumba, who was represented by Mr Kelechi Ekomaru, a staff member of the ministry also commended the agency for including Imo in the programme and urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity.

Earlier, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Dr Josiah Ugochukwu, said the programme was a welcome innovation and perfect for pensioners.

He said most pensioners had nothing to fall back on after retirement and as such, would greatly benefit from the programme.

This is a well thought out programme and it is a welcome development; most of us have been idle because we have nothing to fall back on after retirement.

This will go a long way in alleviating the idleness while giving us a chance to earn a little more in addition to our pension and help us with our responsibilities, he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

Chief Vincent Ighile, President of Edo Community Leaders Association in the FCT, has urged the Federal Government to complete the dualisation of the Benin-Auchi-Okene road, which has turned into a death trap.

Ighile made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after a stakeholders meeting of the association in Abuja.

He said that the government should hasten work on the road project to save lives of commuters using the road.

According to him, the road has completely broken down and required immediate intervention.

The terrible state of the road is causing untold hardship to our people back home and has prevented them from pursuing their day-to-day activities.

Most crops get bad due to the delay in transportation from the source to its destination while commuters now lose quality hours as a result of the traffic gridlock, he added.

The association president said it was more cheaper now to travel by air than drive through the dilapidated Benin-Auchi-Okene road.

Ighile said that they have made several appeal on government to repair the road before it becomes completely impassable.

The road has become a death trap and spot for kidnappers to carry out their evil activities, the association president added.

He, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and members of the National Assembly to save the situation.

Look at the sufferings and untold hardships of the good people of Edo and commuters who hold their hearts in their hands when using the road.

Commuters at times spend days on the road when heavy trucks fall or vehicles break down, he said.

Ighile also said many commuters have died as a result of accidents on the road while some were abducted by gunmen who take advantage of the bad state of the road to perpetrate their criminal activities.

He advised the government to have a sincere culture of road maintenance instead of waiting till the complete collapse of a road before intervening.

The cost of maintaining roads is cheaper than constructing new ones, well continue to engage with the government to ensure the completion of the dualisation of the road, he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News